A Trade!

Throughout the offseason and training camp, it was looking like the decision-makers of the Minnesota Vikings were going to have some tough defensive line decisions to make. Only a year ago, the Vikings defensive line was a modest and plucky group. They were solid against the run but didn’t provide much push as a pass rushing group. After the offseason additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave as well as the emergence of a promising group of younger players, the defensive line has suddenly become a strength on what could be one of the best defenses in the league. The Vikings have a surplus of talented and promising defensive linemen and it’s forcing some tough decisions.

The first tough decision was made last night. The Vikings traded defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for two sixth-round picks (2026 and 2027). Phillips was scheduled to make $7.4 million this season. The Vikings will pick up half of that amount. That clears $3.7 million of cap space this season and they’ll save $7.5 million in cap space for 2026. 

Harrison Phillips was the first big free agent signing of General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Originally signed in 2022, Phillips signed a new three-year deal in 2024. He was an immediate fixture on the defensive line and quickly emerged as a team leader. He was a team captain and representative in the player’s association. He was extremely active in the community and was the Vikings 2023 nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Phillips was a fan favorite on and off the field. Parting ways with him was a tough decision. It was always going to be. 

For the past week, I’ve been trying to figure out a way to keep undrafted rookie Elijah Williams on the roster. He’s played so well in training camp practices and preseason games that sneaking him onto the practice squad was probably not possible. Williams was a player of interest before the 2025 NFL Draft and I was shocked that he went undrafted. The NFL really has to do a much better job at scouting the HBCUs. Too many terrific players from those schools are being ignored. Williams is the latest example. It took a minicamp tryout with the Vikings for Williams to get his deserved NFL opportunity. He’s made the most of it as I believe that he’s played his way onto the Vikings roster. His rise might be at the expense of second-year Taki Taimani. It was definitely at the expense of Phillips. 

A curiosity of the Vikings projected defensive line group is the humble beginnings of the majority of the them. After high-end free agent additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the players are late-round or no-round picks.

Jalen Redmond - undrafted, former XFL player

Levi Drake Rodriguez - 2024 seventh-round pick

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - 2025 fifth-round pick

Elijah Williams - undrafted

Taki Taimani - undrafted

Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Elijah Williams, and Taki Taimani have made the most of their NFL opportunity.